Apparatus and method for excluding air bubbles from submerged well pump



BUBBLES FROM SUBMERGED WELL PUM\P 2 Sheets sheet 1 D. H. AULMANAPPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EXCLUDING AIR Jan. 7, 1958" Filed June 6, 1956Fig./

Dean H. Au/man INVENTOR.

7 BY M0W8% Jan. 7, 1958 D. H. AULMAN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EXCLUDINGAIR BUBBLES FROM SUBMERGED WELL PUMP Filed June 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 24 Dean H. Au/man i INVENTOR WWW 5m United States PatentO ice APPARATUSAND METHOD FOR EXCLUDING lAIR BUBBLES FROM SUBIVIERGED WELL Dean H.Aulman, Woodland, Calif., assignor of one half to Harry E. Aulman,Woodland, Calif.

Application June 6, 1956, Serial No. 589,704

9 Claims. (Cl. 103-203) This invention comprises novel and usefulimprove ments in an apparatus and method for excluding air bubbles fromsubmerged well pumps and is especially designed to overcomethedetrimental effect of a falling water level upon the efiiciency ofoperation of submerged well pumps.

In certain regions having seasonal or for other reasons receding waterlevels, and especially in those regions having many irrigation wells, ithas been found that the efficiency of submerged water pumps therein isdetrimentally affected by a recession in the water levels. Particularly,in irrigation and other wells in which the well casings haveperforations above the pumping level of the well, seasonal or otherrecessions of the water level below the apertures or passages by whichthe water bearing strata produces a flow into the well casing, result inthe dropping and splashing of the incoming water, often fromconsiderable heights, from the water admitting perforations or openingsto the water level within the well casing. This falling water entrapsand carries with it thousands of air bubbles which by the force of thefalling water are forced below the pumping water level and adjacent tothe intake of the submerged pump. As is well known, the admission 'ofair to the intake of a submerged pump has a detrimental eifect upon theefliciency of the pump, thereby lessening the flow of water deliveredthereby and also increasing the expense of the user.

It is therefore the primary purpose of this invention to provide anapparatus and a method whereby the above mentioned detrimental efiectsof a receding water level in wells upon the efliciency of a submergedwater pump therein may be avoided.

An important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus whichshall be of a simple and yet a dependable construction and operation forovercoming and preventing the delivery of air bubbles to the intake ofthe pump by water flowing into the well.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and methodin accordance with the foregoing objects which shall be always ready foruse and may be selectively rendered operative or inoperative as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and methodwhereby the inflowing water of a well may be selectively prevented fromcarrying air bubbles below the water level during the inflow of theincoming water, and which apparatus and method may be controlled in asimple manner from the surface.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the .accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical central section through a portion of awell casing and illustrating the manner in which the principles of thisinvention are applied to a submerged pump therein; I

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view in vertical section Patented Jan. 7,1958 2 taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line22 of Figure 1 and showing in full lines the protective device of thisinvention in its inoperative position,

and indicating in dotted lines the position of the protective deviceduring its use;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon theplane indicated by the section line 3--3 of Figure 2 and showing themanner in which the protective device is secured to the flow line orpump tubing of the well;

' Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view' taken substantially upon theplane indicated by the section line 4--4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is an assembly perspective view of the various elements formingthe protective device of this invention.

Referring first to Figure 1 which illustrates by way of example onemanner of applying the principles of this invention, it will be seenthat there is disclosed a well casing 10 extending through an upperwater producing strata 12 and downwardly into a lower water producingstrata 14. At the surface, the casing is provided with a casing head 16from which a water delivery pipe 18 extends, the water delivery pipebeing connected to a flow or pump tubing 20 disposed in the casing andextending towards the bot tom of the well, and carrying at its lower enda conventional submerged type of well pump 22.

It should be understood that the submerged pump 22 may be of any desiredcharacter and may be operated in any desired manner, and since theprinciples of this invention are not limited to any particular mode ofoperation or construction of pump, a further description of the same isdeemed to be unnecessary.

As will be seen from Figure l, the lower portion of the well casing 10which extends through the lower water producing strata 14 is perforatedas at 24 to freely admit the passage of the water into the casing, whilethose portions of the casing which extend through other water producingstrata, such as the strata 12, are usually likewise perforated, as at26. Indicated by the numeral 28 is the normal water level of the soilabove the water producing strata 12. When the Water level within thewell casing stands substantially at or above the apertures 26 of thetopmost water producing strata, the water therefrom flows into the wellcasing without any appreciable splash and produces no problem. However,when the water level within the casing drops below the water level ofthe'topmost water producing strata, such as the strata 12, to anyappreciable extent, such as to the level indicated by the line 30, sothat this pumping level in the casing is spaced closely above thesubmerged pump, an important problem exists. As the water from theproducing strata 12 passes through the apertures 26 and falls downwardlyin the casing to the water level 30 therein, the stream of falling watersplashing upon this water level carries with it air bubbles which may bedriven below the level 30 to a suflicient distance to be drawn into theintake of the submerged pump 22. When this occurs, the introduction ofthe air bubbles to the pump intake very seriously cur tails anddetrimentally alfects the efficiency of the pump, reducing its capacityand increasing the expense of obtaining water for the user. Inaccordance with this invention, a method has been devised and a safetydevice and attachment has been provided whereby the above mentionedobjections may be satisfactorily overcome.

As will be seen especially from Figures 2 and 5, the apparatus providedfor this purpose, indicated generally by the numeral 32, consists of asleeve 34 which is slidably received snugly upon the pump tubing 20.Adjacent its upper end, this sleeve is provided with an annular,projecting collar or shoulder 36 having therein an axially ex tendingradial notch 38 for a'purpose. to be subsequently set forth. Above thissleeve, the upper extremity of the sleeve is provided with screw threadsfor receiving fastening bolts 40.

At its lower end, the sleeve 34 is. externally threaded, as at 42, forthe reception of a nut 44.. Frictionally embracing the sleeve 34 andretained thereon between the annular ring 36 and the securing nut 44 isa hollow sleeve 46 of rubber or other fluid impervious material. Aflexible conduit 48 extends. through a reinforcing, patch 50 formed onpreferably the upper portion of the inflatable sleeve 46, this flexibleconduit conveniently extending through the notch 38, and beingdetachably coupled, as by a coupling member 52, to a copper or othertubing 54, which extends into the casing head 16 above the surface ofthe ground. Above the surface of the ground, the copper tubing 54 isconnected through any suitable control "alve, not shown, to any othersuitable source of air pressure, such as an air compressor or the like.

The application of this device to a submerged well pump is as follows:The inflatable sleeve 46 being secured to the member 34 by the ring 36and nut 44 and having its flexible conduit 48 coupled to the fluidpressure line 54, is applied to a section of the pump tubing 20, and issecured thereto by the bolts 40 which abut against the exterior surfaceof the pump tubing, at any convenient distance above the submerged waterpump 22.

In its collapsed position shown in Figure 2 in full lines, theinflatable sleeve 46 oifers no obstruction of the cross-sectional areaof the well casing whereby incoming water from the water producingstrata may freely enter the well casing and descend to the pumping waterlevel standing therein. However, when the water within the casing hasreceded either by pump or for other reasons to an extent as thatindicated by the water pumping level 30, whereby the incoming water fromthe producing water bearing strata or stratas above tends to splash orfall upon the pumping level in the casing and thus produce and entrainair bubbles therewith detrimentally affecting the operation of thesubmerged water pump by reducing pump efliciency, the sleeve 46, beingpositioned at an appropriate distance for this purpose, is inflated toor beyond the dotted line position indicated at 60 in Figure 2, by theadmission of air or other fluid under pressure from the conduit 54 andflexible tubing 48 into the sleeve 46. When properly inflated orexpanded, the sleeve will reduce and obstruct the cross-sectional areaof the well casing to such an extent that a higher head of water will bebuilt up and maintained above the apparatus and inflated sleeve, as longas water is falling from the level of apertures 26, than when the sleeveis deflated or is not sufliciently inflated. The incoming falling waterwill strike upon this built up water level above the sleeve. But thedown draft of water, by virtue of the restriction or throttling eflectby the sleeve, will be slowed up sufliciently to enable air bubbles toascend faster than the downflowing stream drops, thereby preventing theintake of air to the pump. By this sleeve, the water will then besufliciently slowed up as to its down draft to the pump suction intaketo permit any entrained air bubbles to mater-ially rise through thewater and escape and thereby will be prevented from forcibly driving airbubbles below the water level and to the vicinity of the intake of thesubmerged pump. For this purpose the obstruction interposed to the downdraft of the water and entrained air bubbles must be such as to reducethe speed of this down draft to less than the speed at which entrained.air bubbles will rise in the water. It will probably benecessary toadjust the vertical position of the sleeve and its expanded areaindividually for each well bore. The sleeve should be inflated no morethan necessary for the above purpose, in order that the flow of watershall be restricted no more than sufficient to permit escape of theentrained air bubbles. When no more air bubbles are visible at the pumpdischarge, it will be evident that the sleeve is sulficiently inflated.

As will be perceived, the expansible sleeve may be readily inflated ordeflated from the surface of the ground, as desired. Thus, when thewater level stands suificiently high in the well to produce no problemfrom bubbles carried by the inflowing water, as during rainy seasons orperiods when the standing water level within the well is high, thecasing may be deflated. However, when for any reason the water leveldrops to a height which would be detrimental in the manner abovedescribed, the protective sleeve can be readily inflated from thesurface as long as its services may be required.

An important feature of this invention is that the protective device maybe readily applied to existing wells and pump lines; and especially maybe applied to irrigation wells with which this problem is extremelyprevalent. The device is readily adjusted to the conditions produced bydifferent water levels and possesses relatively few parts and is of adurable nature.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications. and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A protective. device for submerged pumps in well casings comprisingan inflatable member, means for supporting said member in a well casingat a position between the pumping water level in the casing and a higherlevel at which water enters the casing from a water producing strata,means for inflating the member to a size at which it intercepts theincoming water from the higher level and slows its speed of down flowfrom the higher water level to the intake of a Submerged pump to a speedjust less than that at which entrained air bubbles will naturally riseout of the water, thereby eliminating the entrainment for air bubbles tothe inlet of the submerged pump.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said supporting means engages thepump tubing of the submerged pump for supporting the inflatable membertherefrom.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said supporting means engages thepump tubing of the submerged pump for supporting the inflatable membertherefrom, said in flatable member surrounding said pump tubing.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said supporting means engages thepump tubing of the submerged pump for supporting the inflatable membertherefrom, said mounting means being slidable and vertically adjustableupon the pump tubing.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said inflating means comprises atube in said casing extending from a controlled source of fluid pressureabove the surface and communicating with said member.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes asleeve slidably received upon the pump tubing of said submerged pump,said inflatable member surrounding said sleeve, fastening means securingsaid sleeve to said pump tubing.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes asleeve slidably received upon the pump tubing of said submerged pump,said inflatable member surrounding said sleeve, fastening means securingsaid sleeve to said pump tubing, a ring on the upper end of the sleeve,for limiting upward movement of the mem ber thereon.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes asleeve slidably received upon the pump tubing of said submerged pump,said inflatable member surrounding said sleeve, fastening means securingsaid sleeve to said pump tubing, a ring on the upper end of the sleeve,for limiting upward movementof the memher thereon, a retainer on thelower end of the sleeve limiting downward movement of the sleeve.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes asleeve slidably received upon the pump tubing of said submerged pump,said inflatable member surrounding said sleeve, fastening means securingsaid sleeve to said pump tubing, a ring on the upper end of the sleeve,for limiting upward movement of the member thereon, said ring having anotch, said inflating means passing through said notch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSMillingar Jan. 10, 1871 Dower Nov. 8, 1881 Aulman May 16, 1939 BradleyOct. 24, 1939 Lybyer Apr. 4, 1944 Gilbert May 16, 1944

